Snappyssweets
03-22-2015, 09:32 AM
Hi everyone.
Well as a first timer whom was stepping into this on a fixed income. I had to try to come up with ways to first do my own taps and cheap.
So here is what I did and some pictures included.
First we own 7 acres of land. I only marked off trees for tapping on 1.5 acres of the land. On this I marked off 130 potential taps. Ended up only putting in 100.
The taps themselves are 3/16 inch metal tube.
I purchased two 25 foot coils of tube and cut them to 5 inch lengths with hacksaw and vice.
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/walksalone69/001.jpg
Next I bought Air line tube 3/16 to go on the end of the metal tubing. Figured 3.5 feet per tap total.
Placed the Air Tube over the Metal tube end.
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/walksalone69/004.jpg
To get my homemade taps.
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/walksalone69/003.jpg
Drilled my holes in the trees. Inserted my Taps, ran the line to (this year) cleaned out jugs which set on the ground.
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/walksalone69/015.jpg
I know I used 3/16 for my taps and that seems small. Yet at the same time I also figured I would be able to sacrifice some flow which would also equal a little less stress on my trees. Keeping to the guidelines for number of taps per tree based on the size of the tree. So two taps of 3/16 has less draw but also less chance of a damage to tree.
I can not complain as of posting this off 100 taps I have drawn 286 gallons of sap. Still a few more days of sap to come from the looks of it.
My bigger problem is I am only using the stove top and a propane side burner on the grill for boil down this year. Keeping up I am only 36 hours from fresh to boil at this point. But I know I am making a way to better do this with wood for next year.
I the end I am having a lot of fun and its going too do what I wanted. Will be expanding next year.
I forgot to add the cost.
Cost of air line was .11 a foot.or 44 dollars. Cost of metal tube was $32 so for $76 dollars I ended up with 120 metal spiles and 100 finished.
Thanks everyone glad I found this place.
Well as a first timer whom was stepping into this on a fixed income. I had to try to come up with ways to first do my own taps and cheap.
So here is what I did and some pictures included.
First we own 7 acres of land. I only marked off trees for tapping on 1.5 acres of the land. On this I marked off 130 potential taps. Ended up only putting in 100.
The taps themselves are 3/16 inch metal tube.
I purchased two 25 foot coils of tube and cut them to 5 inch lengths with hacksaw and vice.
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/walksalone69/001.jpg
Next I bought Air line tube 3/16 to go on the end of the metal tubing. Figured 3.5 feet per tap total.
Placed the Air Tube over the Metal tube end.
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/walksalone69/004.jpg
To get my homemade taps.
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/walksalone69/003.jpg
Drilled my holes in the trees. Inserted my Taps, ran the line to (this year) cleaned out jugs which set on the ground.
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/walksalone69/015.jpg
I know I used 3/16 for my taps and that seems small. Yet at the same time I also figured I would be able to sacrifice some flow which would also equal a little less stress on my trees. Keeping to the guidelines for number of taps per tree based on the size of the tree. So two taps of 3/16 has less draw but also less chance of a damage to tree.
I can not complain as of posting this off 100 taps I have drawn 286 gallons of sap. Still a few more days of sap to come from the looks of it.
My bigger problem is I am only using the stove top and a propane side burner on the grill for boil down this year. Keeping up I am only 36 hours from fresh to boil at this point. But I know I am making a way to better do this with wood for next year.
I the end I am having a lot of fun and its going too do what I wanted. Will be expanding next year.
I forgot to add the cost.
Cost of air line was .11 a foot.or 44 dollars. Cost of metal tube was $32 so for $76 dollars I ended up with 120 metal spiles and 100 finished.
Thanks everyone glad I found this place.